Anna atkins and the cyanotypes process
Anna Atkins loved her plants. She was a pioneer in the study of plants, she believed that the best way to document science is through the production of photographs, using a certain type of image creation called cynotype, she could record every small detail of types of plants and algae. She didn't consider herself an artist or photographer. she preferred her profession as a scientist. It is formed that Anna Atkins was the first female photographer in history adopting the process of light sensitive paper through a friend by the name of sir john herchel who invented the process and was a friend of Anna Atkins, in the coming months, she had created a series of contact printed cynotypes through applying dried seaweed directly on to cynotype paper.
The cyanotypes process depends on a series of chemicals. Ammonium iron and potassium ferricyanide. When used with UV lighting (the sun) and water it creates a beautiful cyanotype. When we did the process we used idle day to day objects for instance pennies, cards and other pieces of equipment. The practical is easy, placing objects on a piece of paper whilst vulnerable to the sun then running over to a bucket of water afterward, then leave to dry. It is a generally cheap and easy to do process. Therefore you don't particularly need any complicated equipment.
The photo on the left is a case of using cyanotypes in art form and not for using it for scientific evidence like Anna Atkins used the method for. The artist who has created this piece, decided to use the method for textiles, forming this blanket. The video below describes how to make a cyanotype in detail. |
I prefer my first cyanotype to my second. The light is more tense and looks thicker compared to the cyanotype on the right. In my opinion this was a successful cyanotype. I used coins to create these patches of white, which look like orbs of light or the moon.
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If I was to improve this photo I would ensure that the contrast between the white sections and the blue background was clearer. Due to perhaps not keeping the paper in contact with the light for long enough,
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